Hair Styling Heat Protector

ABSTRACT

A device formed from a lightweight, heat resistant material to protect the skin while using a heat generating hair styling device is disclosed. A channel is formed between an inner band and an outer band of the device to facilitate moving hot liquids or gels away from the front of a wearer&#39;s face. The rear of the device has a variable connecting structure to facilitate fitting the device to different sized heads.

This application claims priority to provisional application 60/822,939,filed on Aug. 19, 2006, which is incorporated in its entirety herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technology disclosed herein relates generally to the field of haircare and, in particular, to devices used in connection with curlingirons and other heat producing products used in hair care such asstraightening combs and heated rollers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Using a curling iron can be dangerous work as one navigates aroundexposed ears, neck and forehead. The iron is hot and the skin of theforehead, ears, and neck is sensitive. Furthermore, even when using amirror, it is possible to have the hot curling iron come into contactwith the skin and cause a scar, or come close enough so that the heatfrom the iron hurts and leaves the skin irritated.

Therefore there is a need for a way to prevent injury to the skin of theforehead, neck, and ears from heat-producing hair care devices such ascurling irons, straightening combs and heated rollers.

Related art that has addressed this problem include the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,296,078, issued to P. Young on Jun. 13, 1940, disclosesa shield for protecting the face and neck from hot air while drying hairwith a hot air dryer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,840, issued to Stella L. Clavelle on Oct. 14, 1997,discloses a skin heat shielding system comprising an elastic headbandmember positionable about the head of a user; a forehead shieldingmember constructed from a heat resistance plastic having a firstheadband attachment portion and a forehead shielding portion extendingoutwardly from the headband attachment portion, the first headbandattachment portion being detachably securable to a first headbandsection of the headband member with a first detachable fasteningmechanism; a neck shielding member constructed from a heat resistanceplastic having a second headband attachment portion and a neck shieldingportion extending outwardly from the headband attachment portion at anangle of less than sixty degrees, the second headband attachment portionbeing detachably securable to a second section of the headband memberwith a second detachable fastening mechanism; and a pair of ear shieldmembers each having a fabric outer shell that is impregnated withmetallic particles and that forms an internal compartment that isaccessible through an elasticized opening, a heat insulating inner shellsecured within the internal compartment of the outer shell having an earreceiving compartment formed therein that is sized to receive thereinthe ear of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. D446,609, issued to Regina Ann Hill on Aug. 14, 2001,illustrates a protective headband.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,633, issued to Myra J. Mosely on Jan. 14, 2003,discloses a system of components that cooperate to shield the exposedskin of the ears, forehead and neck against contact by a hot curlingiron includes a head band, an ear piece, and neck shield. The ear piecesfit over the ears, cupping the tops and backs of the ears to bothprotect them and derive support for the system from them. The head bandand neck shield attach to ear pieces and are made of a heat resistantfabric. The three components will not prevent burns in every case butcan prevent or limit injury from the proximity of the hot curling ironand harm from the occasional, inadvertent touching of the iron.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,347, issued to Jackie L. Brundlidge on Mar. 23,2004, discloses protective headwear for use under a hair dryer includinga strap which extends across the forehead of the wearer. A visor isattached to the bottom of the strap and covers and protects the eyes andnose of the wearer. A pair of earpieces is connected to opposite sidesof the forehead strap by means of elastic connectors. Each earpiece hasa first section and a bendable end section which extends around an earof the wearer. Flaps are attached to and hang down from the firstsection to cover the ears. The forehead strap may be elastic andextendable, and the visor may be fan shaped.

While these patents and other previous methods have attempted to solvethe problems that they addressed, none address channeling hot liquids orgels towards the back of a person's head, as does embodiments of thetechnology disclosed herein.

Therefore, a need exists for a hair styling heat shield with theseattributes and functionalities. The hair styling heat shield accordingto embodiments of the invention substantially departs from theconventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can beappreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improvedheir styling heat shield which can be used commercially. In this regard,the technology disclosed herein substantially fulfills these objectives.

The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the artof which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view towarddischarging the inventor's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosinginformation that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technologydisclosed herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that theforegoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious,singly or when considered in combination, the inventor's claimedinvention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the technology disclosed herein, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a device thatprevents or minimizes burning or irritation of the forehead, neck andears when using a heat generating hair styling device. In particular,the technology disclosed herein relates to a device that allows the userto deflect the heat from hot hair appliances, e.g. hot combs, curlingirons, flat irons, hot rollers, away from the face, forehead, neck andears while allowing a user to get as close to the root of the hairfollicle as possible.

According to its major aspects and briefly described, the technologydisclosed herein is a system of components that cooperate with eachother to shield the exposed skin of the ears, forehead and neck againstcontact by a heated hair care device during use. The components are madeof a lightweight, heat resistant material, e.g. plastic, silicone, thatcan be contoured around a user's head.

One of the components is a front shield formed as a visor-like tip thatis operable for adjusting up or down depending on the user's needs. Whenthe front shield is in the down position it protects the forehead, sidesof the face and ears from coming in contact with a hot air appliance.When the front shield is in the down position it falls just above auser's line of vision, i.e. at the top of the brow area of a user'sface.

Another component is a back shield that is operable for adjusting up ordown depending on the user's needs. When the back shield is the downposition it protects the nape of a neck. The front shield can be in theupright position while the back shield is in the down position, or theposition of the front shield and the back shield can match.

Another component is a connecting base formed to allow the front shieldand back shield to cooperate with each other. The material for the frontshield, back shield and connecting base may be operable for beingsanitized, such as when used commercially.

Another component is a pair of adjustable ear protectors which areoperable to be moved in different positions along the connecting base.In the preferred embodiment these adjustable ear protectors have a softmaterial, e.g. foam, which is disposed such as to protect the ears of auser. These adjustable ear protectors protect the user from having thehard edge of the technology disclosed herein cut into the back of theear as well as make the use of the shield more comfortable.

Another component is liners, attached to the inside of the front shield,the back shield and the connecting base as a cushion for the foreheadand neck. The preferred material for the liners is foam. Polished stripsof replaceable, i.e. releasable, cardboard may also be used as liners ina commercial environment.

Another component is at least one arrangement of hook and loop fastener,e.g. VELCRO, which adjusts the fit of the technology disclosed hereinaround a user's head.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the technology disclosed herein. It isimportant, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including suchequivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spiritand scope of the technology disclosed herein.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the artof which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view towarddischarging the inventor's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosinginformation that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technologydisclosed herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that theforegoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious,singly or when considered in combination, the inventor's claimedinvention.

One aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it preventsgetting burned during the use of a heat generating hair styling device.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it reduces thechance of a user getting a lifelong scar of his/her face, ears or neckfrom using a heat generating hair styling device.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it allowsclose access to the roots of hair follicles of a user.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it is easy touse.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be madeinexpensively.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be madefrom readily available materials.

Another aspect of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be usedin a commercial environment.

These and other features and advantages of the technology disclosedherein will be presented in more detail in the following specificationof the invention to illustrate the principles of the invention.

There are additional features of the invention that will be describedhereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims to beappended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least oneembodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the technology disclosed herein. It isimportant, therefore, that claims be regarded as including suchequivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spiritand scope of the technology disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The technology disclosed herein, together with further advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription of the simplest form of the technology disclosed herein,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a rear elevation view of a hair style heat shield,according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the rear of a hair style heatshield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of the rear of a hair style heatshield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of the rear of a hair style heatshield, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technology disclosed herein will now be described in detail withreference to a few preferred embodiments. In the following description,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the technology disclosed herein. It will be apparent,however, to one skilled in the art, that the technology disclosed hereinmay be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In otherinstances, well known operations have not been described in detail sonot to unnecessarily obscure the technology disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, in an exemplary embodiment a hair stylingheat shield 10 is formed as one piece and is comprised of threeelements, an inner band 100, a channel 200 and an outer band 300, wherethe channel 200 joins the inner band 100 to the outer band 300.

The inner band 100 terminates in a first end 110 and a second end 130.The first end 110 has a male connector 120 disposed at the bottom of theinner band 100 near the first end 110. The inner band 100 has aplurality of a female connector 140 formed in an array starting near thesecond end 130 and proceeding away from the second end 130 as shown.

In some embodiments the male connector 120 has a sleeve 125 formedapproximately midway around the male connector 120 as shown. The sleeve125 facilitates the releasable securing of the male connector 120 intoone of the female connector 140.

In one embodiment the one piece heat resistant hair styling heatprotector is formed to be capable of flipping up or down.

In another embodiment the male connector is formed in the shape of acone with a distal end smaller than a proximal end where the distal endis dimensioned to fit inside the female connector.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. For example, many of the featuresand components described above in the context of a particular hairstyling heat protector configuration can be incorporated into otherconfigurations in accordance with other embodiments of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is not limited except by the appended claims.

1. A one piece heat resistant hair styling heat protector comprises aninner band, an outer band, and a channel, where the channel joins theinner band to the outer band, wherein the inner band terminates in afirst end and a second end, the first end has a male connector disposedat the bottom of the inner band near the first end, the inner band has aplurality of a female connector formed in an array starting near thesecond end and proceeding away from the second end.
 2. The heatprotector of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve formed around the maleconnector approximately midway around the male connector.
 3. The heatprotector of claim 1, wherein the heat protector is capable of flippingup or down.
 4. The heat protector of claim 2, wherein the heat protectoris capable of flipping up or down
 5. The heat protector of claim 1,wherein the male connector is formed in the shape of a cone with adistal end smaller than a proximal end where the distal end isdimensioned to fit inside the female connector.
 6. The heat protector ofclaim 1, wherein the channel is capable of guiding a hot liquid or a hotgel away from the face of a wearer.